Flexible closure for cars and the like



March 13, 1956 11 55 FLEXIBLE CLOSURE FOR CARS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 8, 1952 INVENTOR. EDWIN H. SUESS ATTORNEY March 13, 1956 SUESS FLEXIBLE CLOSURE FOR CARS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 8, 1952 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. EDWIN H. SUESS Y 444 M ATTORNEY FIG. 4

United States Patent M FLEXIBLE CLOSURE FOR CARS AND THE LIKE Edwin H. Suess, St. Paul, Minn.

Application November 8, 1952, Serial N 0. 319,558

Claims. (Cl. 160-468) My present invention relates to improvements in grain doors and, more particularly, to a flexible or disposable grain door.

An object of this invention is to provide novel means for reinforcing a flexible or disposable grain door and in anchoring said reinforcement relative to a closed car.

This and other objects will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the drawing.

To the above end, the invention consists of the novel devices and combination of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the inside of a closed car having a door opening closed by the improved flexible or disposable grain door;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the outside of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view in section taken on the irregular line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing one of the end 2,738,006 Patented Mar. 13 1956 6 folded onto the cleats 16.

portions of one of the reinforcing tapes and a nail for anchoring the same.

The numeral 4 indicates one of the sides of a closed car having a door opening 5.between door posts 6. The floor of the car and the door sill are designated by the numerals 7 and 8, respectively.

The door opening 5 is closed by a novel flexible or disposable grain door 9 fully shown, described and broadly claimed in an application executed of even date herewith. For the purpose of this case, it is sufficient to state that the grain door 9 comprises lower, intermediate and upper sections 10, 11 and 12, respectively. Each section 10, 11 and 12 includes an outer sheet 13, an inner sheet 14 and a corrugated sheet 15 interposed between the sheets 13 and 14. Allof the sheets 13, 14 and 15 are made of paper or other suitable material and cemented together.

Sections 10, 11 and 12 are nailed to the door posts 6 and further secured thereto by two inner cleats 16 also nailed through said sections and to the posts 6. The end portions of the sections 10, 11 and 12 are folded onto the cleats 16 and secured by two outer cleats 17 nailed one to each of the inner cleats 16 and door posts 6. The lower section 10 has a floor flap 10' secured by a floor board 18 and cooperating with said floor board is a pry board 19 that extends between the cleats 16 and is nailed to the door posts 6.

Referring now in detail to the present invention which relates to the reinforcement of the grain door sections 10, 11 and 12: A plurality of longitudinal edgewise spaced reinforcing members 20, as shown tapes, are cemented to the outer side of the outer sheet 13 and extend lengthwise of the same. The end portion of the The end portions of each tape 20 are first twisted to strengthen and give body to the same and then the stiffened and twisted end portions are coiled to form a tubular eye 21 and held to shape by an adhesive which hardens after being applied to the same. Before the outer cleats 17 are applied, nails 22 are inserted through the eyes 21, driven through the sheet portions 13, 14, and 15,

' the inner cleats 16 and into the door posts 6 thus anchor the reinforcing tapes 20. When the nails 22 are driven home through the eyes 21, the heads of the nails of the nails tend to maintain the eye formation. The outer cleats 17, when applied, cover the nails 22 and twisted end portions and eyes 21 of the tapes 20. The tape 20 has embedded therein strands of Fiberglas 23 or other suitable material.

While there are herein disclosed but a limited number of embodiments of the structure, process and product of the invention herein presented, it is possible to produce still other embodiments without departing from the inventive concept herein disclosed, and it is desired therefore, that only such limitations be imposed on the appended claims as are stated herein, or required by the prior art.

What I claim is:

l. A flexible closure having a flexible non-metallic tape extending thereacross, each end portion of the tape being twisted and coiled to form an eye through which a nail may be inserted and driven into a support.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, further including an adhesive applied to each twisted and coiled end portion of the tape to keep its form.

3. A flexible non-metallic rectangular closure and a plurality of flexible tapes extending across the outer side of the closure and cemented thereto except their end portions which are loose, the loose end portions of the tapes being twisted and coiled to form eyes therein through which nails may be inserted and driven into supports.

4. The structure defined in claim 3, further including an adhesive applied to the loose end portions of the tapes to keep their form.

5. The combination with two spaced door posts and a closure member interposed therebetween, a cleat nailed to the inner side of each post and a second cleat nailed to the outer side of each first-noted cleat, of a plurality of flexible non-metallic tapes extending across the closure member on the outer side thereof and between the posts and the first-noted cleats and folded around the outer edges of said first-noted cleats and onto the outer sides thereof, said tapes being cemented to the closure member except their outer end portions which are loose and extend outwardly of the first-noted cleats, said loose ends of the tapes being twisted and coiled to form eyes therein and folded around the outer edges of the first-noted cleats and between the first and second noted cleats, and nails inserted through the eyes and driven into the first-noted cleats.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 357,265 Brandenburg Feb. 8, 1887 2,483,523 Brandon Oct. 4, 1949 2,595,087 Leslie Apr. 29, 1952 2,599,443 Ford June 3, 1952 

